Back pack including front pouch

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided including a back pack and a bag or pouch. The back pack may include first and second straps. The bag may be permanently attached to the back pack by a third strap and can be temporarily attached to the back pack by a fourth strap. The third strap may have a first end which is permanently attached at a top of a body portion nearer a first side of the back pack than a second side of the back pack. The third strap may have a second end which is permanently attached to the bag. The apparatus may be further comprised of an attachment device which is attached to the second strap. A first end of the fourth strap may be permanently attached to the bag. A second end of the fourth strap may be configured to be temporarily attached to the attachment device, to thereby temporarily attach the second end of the fourth strap to the second strap.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improved methods and apparatus concerning back packs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are various devices known in the prior art for providing back packs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

At least one embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus comprising a back pack, including first and second straps. The apparatus may also include a bag which is permanently attached to the back pack by a third strap and which can be temporarily attached to the back pack by a fourth strap.

The first strap of the back pack may have a first end which is attached near a top of a body portion of the back pack, nearer a first side of the back pack than a second side of the back pack, the second side of the back pack opposite the first side of the back pack. The second strap of the back pack may have a first end which is attached near the top of the body portion of the back pack and nearer the second side of the back pack than the first side of the back pack.

The third strap may have a first end which is permanently attached at the top of the body portion nearer the first side of the back pack than the second side of the back pack. The third strap may have a second end which is permanently attached to the bag.

The apparatus may be further comprised of an attachment device which is attached to the second strap. A first end of the fourth strap may be permanently attached to the bag. A second end of the fourth strap may be configured to be temporarily attached to the attachment device, to thereby temporarily attach the second end of the fourth strap to the second strap and to the body portion of the back pack.

The first strap may have a second end which is attached near a bottom of the body portion of the back pack, nearer the first side of the pack back than the second side of the back pack. The second strap may have a second end which is attached near a bottom of the body portion of the back pack, nearer the second side of the back pack than the first side of the back pack.

The bag may have an opening leading to a chamber in which items can be inserted. The chamber may include an interior pocket for storing an item.

The apparatus may further include a fifth strap, and a sixth strap. A first end of the fifth strap may be attached to the bottom of the bag nearer a first side of the bag than a second side of the bag, the first side of the bag opposite from the second side of the bag. A first end of the sixth strap may be attached to the bottom of the bag nearer the second side of the bag than the first side of the bag.

The apparatus may further include a first attachment device and a second attachment device. The first attachment device may be attached to a bottom of the body portion of the back pack nearer a first side of the back pack than a second side of the back pack. The second attachment device may be attached to the bottom of the body portion of the back pack nearer the second side of the back pack than the first side of the back pack.

A second end of the fifth strap may be configured to be temporarily attached to the first attachment device. A second end of the sixth strap may be configured to be temporarily attached to the second attachment device.

At least one embodiment of the present invention provides a method comprising attaching a bag to a back pack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a back pack in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 2 shows a front view of a back pack in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with the back pack in a first state;

FIG. 3 shows a front view of a back pack in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with the back pack in a second state;

FIG. 4 shows a front view of an attachment device for attaching one strap to another in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A-B show perspective views of two states of a pouch or bag for attachment and use with a back pack in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a pack back in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a back pack 1 in accordance with the prior art. The back pack 1 includes a body portion 10, a left strap 12, and a right strap 14. The left strap 12 has an end 12 a which is attached at a top 10 a of the body portion 10, and an end 12 b which is attached at a bottom 10 b of the body portion. Similarly, the right strap 14 has an end 14 a which is attached at the top 10 a of the body portion 10, and an end 14 b which is attached at the bottom 10 b of the body portion 10.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of a back pack 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with the back pack 100 in a first state. The back pack 100 includes a body portion 101, a left strap 102, and a right strap 104 which are similar to body portion 10, strap 12, and strap 14, respectively, shown in FIG. 1. The straps 102 and 104 may be attached to the body portion 101 similar or in the same manner that the straps 12 and 14 are attached to the body portion 10 shown in FIG. 1. The body portion 101 includes a top 101 a and a bottom 101 b.

The back pack 100 also includes a left strap 112, an adjustable left strap 122, and an adjustment device 122 a. The back pack 100 further includes a right strap 114, a ring 116, an attachment device 118, a ring 120, an adjustable strap 124, and an adjustment device 124 a. The adjustable strap 124 is fixed to a top 106 a of a pouch or bag 106. The adjustable strap 122 is also fixed to the top 106 a of the pouch or bag 106, but at an end typically opposite from adjustable strap 124. The pouch or bag 106 may have a pocket. The back pack 100 also includes a covering 108 having a bottom surface 108 a.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the back pack 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, with the back pack 100 in a second state. In the second state, the covering 108 is flipped over so that it covers the right strap 114, the ring 116, the attachment device 118, and the ring 120. A rear surface 108 b of the covering 108 can now be seen in the view of FIG. 3. The rear surface 108 b and a portion of the strap 114 may include matching pieces of Velcro (trademarked) which allow the covering 108 to remain in the state of FIG. 3 attached to the strap 114.

FIGS. 4A-4B show front views of the strap 114, ring 116, and the attachment device 118 for attaching the strap 114 to the strap 124 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIGS. 4A-B show the attachment device 118 in first and second states, respectively. In the first state shown in FIG. 4A, the attachment device is shown closed and in the second state of FIG. 4B, the attachment device 118 is shown open. The attachment device 118 includes a swivel attachment 118 a which allows the attachment device 118 to swivel, pivot, or rotate with respect to the ring 116. The attachment device 118 also a ring portion 118 b, a ring portion 118 c, a lever 118 d, and a pivot pin 118 e. The attachment device can be changed from the first, closed state, to the second, opened state by pushing the lever in a counterclockwise direction, C1, until the ring portion 118 b separates from the ring portion 118 c as shown in FIG. 4B. The attachment device 118 may be spring loaded or biased, so that letting go of the lever 118 d causes the lever 118 d to rotate clockwise in the direction, C2, back to the state or position of FIG. 4A.

FIGS. 5A-B show perspective views of two states of a pouch or bag 206 for attachment and use with or as part of a back pack, such as back pack 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The pouch or bag 206 includes a cover or flap 252, which can cover an opening 250. The opening 250 leads to an inner chamber 251 which is surrounded by walls 256 and 258. An inner pocket 254, which is against the wall 258 and inside of the inner chamber 251, is shown by dashed lines in FIG. 5A. The pouch or bag 206 has a bottom 206 b and a top 206 a. The cover or flap 252 is attached along the top 206 a. Straps 222 and 224 which may be similar or identical to straps 122 and 124, are shown by dashed lines in FIGS. 5A-B. The straps 222 and 224 may be attached along the top 206 a and may thereby attach pouch or bag 206 to a back pack, such as 100, or thereby incorporate pouch or bag 206 with a back pack, such as 100.

In FIG. 5A, the pouch or bag 206 is shown in a first state in which the cover or flap 252 is not covering the opening 250 and thus items can be placed through the opening 250 into the inner chamber 251, where the items can be held inside the inner chamber 251. The items can be placed in and held inside the pocket 254 inside the inner chamber 251. In FIG. 5B, the pouch or bag 206 is shown in a second state in which the cover or flap 252 has been closed over the opening 250 and thereby substantially closes the inner chamber 251 so that it is difficult for items located in the inner chamber 251 to fall out of the inner chamber 251. In FIG. 5A the inner surface 252 a of the cover or flap 252 can be seen. In FIG. 5B, the outer surface 252 b of the cover or flap 252 can be seen. The pouch or bag 206 could be designed with curved corners and with zippers, so that flap or covering 252 can be zipped and thereby attached to wall 258 of the pouch or bag 206 to close the opening 250.

FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a back pack 300 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The back pack 300 may be similar or identical to the back pack 100 of FIG. 2, or may have some additional features or differences as will be described.

The back pack 300 includes a body portion 301, a left strap 302, and a right strap 304 which are similar to body portion 10, strap 12, and strap 14, respectively, shown in FIG. 1. The straps 302 and 304 may be attached to the body portion 301 similar or in the same manner that the straps 12 and 14 are attached to the body portion 10 shown in FIG. 1. The body portion 301 includes a top 301 a and a bottom 301 b.

The back pack 300 also includes a left strap 312, an adjustable left strap 322, and an adjustment device 322 a. The back pack 300 further includes a ring 320, an adjustable strap 324, and an adjustment device 324 a. The adjustable strap 324 is fixed to a top 306 a of a pouch or bag 306. The pouch or bag 306 may be similar to or identical to the pouch or bag 206 shown in FIGS. 5A-B, or may have additional features or differences as will be described. The adjustable strap 322 is also fixed to the top 306 a of the pouch or bag 306, but at an end typically opposite from adjustable strap 324. The pouch or bag 306 may have a pocket, or inner chamber through opening 350, similar to pouch or bag 206 shown in FIGS. 5A-5B. The back pack 300 also includes a covering 308 having a bottom surface 308 a.

The back pack 300 may have an opening 374 at the top 301 a which leads to a main inner chamber inside the back pack 300. The left strap 312 may be permanently affixed at a location near the opening 374 at the top 301 a of the back pack 300. An individual, such as a child, can hide the pouch or bag 306, such as by placing it through opening 374 into the main inner chamber of the back pack 300, when the pouch or bag 306 is not needed. This will help the individual, such as a child, to not misplace or lose the pouch or bag 306 and give the individual the option to use the pouch or bag 306 when needed. The pouch or bag 306 could also have small pockets inside its inner chamber similar to pocket 254 to put small school items in (e.g. identification cards, or calculators, pencils, pens or credit cards, or cellular phones, or i-pods). The strap 312 can be changed to different widths or sizes for different size children and/or for different purposes.

The pouch or bag 306, shown in FIG. 6, may include straps 370 and 372 which are attached at opposite ends near the bottom 306 b of the pouch or bag 306. The straps 370 and 372 may be attached to the straps or attachment devices 380 and 382, respectively, near the bottom of the body portion 301 of the back pack 300, in order to further secure the pouch or bag 306 to the back pack 300. The straps 370 and 372 and the corresponding straps or attachment devices 380 and 382 may include hooks and matching loops of Velcro (trademarked) or some other attachment device.

There may be a zipper portion 374 a and a zipper portion 374 b which can be connected together to close the opening 374 after the pouch or bag 306 is put inside of the opening 374.

The attachment devices 380 and 382 may include clips. The straps 370 and 372 may be configured to be able to be hidden such as by folding back onto a back surface of pouch or bag 306, if an individual did not want to use the straps 370 and 372.

Although the invention has been described by reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to include within this patent all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of the present invention's contribution to the art. 

1. An apparatus comprising: a back pack, including first and second straps; a third strap; a fourth strap; a bag; wherein the bag is permanently attached to the back pack by the third strap; and wherein the fourth strap has a first end which is attached to the bag and a second end which is configured so that it can be temporarily attached to the back pack.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first strap has a first end which is attached near a top of a body portion of the back pack, nearer a first side of the back pack than a second side of the back pack, the second side of the back pack opposite the first side of the back pack; wherein the second strap has a first end which is attached near the top of the body portion of the back pack and nearer the second side of the back pack than the first side of the back pack; wherein the third strap has a first end which is permanently attached at the top of the body portion nearer the first side of the back pack than the second side of the back pack; and further comprised of an attachment device which is attached to the second strap; and wherein the second end of the fourth strap is configured to be temporarily attached to the attachment device.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first strap has a second end which is attached near a bottom of the body portion of the back pack, nearer the first side of the pack back than the second side of the back pack; and the second strap has a second end which is attached near a bottom of the body portion of the back pack, nearer the second side of the back pack than the first side of the back pack.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bag has an opening leading to a chamber in which items can be inserted.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the chamber includes an interior pocket for storing an item.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a fifth strap; a sixth strap; wherein a first end of the fifth strap is attached to the bottom of the bag nearer a first side of the bag than a second side of the bag, the first side of the bag opposite from the second side of the bag; wherein a first end of the sixth strap is attached to the bottom of the bag nearer the second side of the bag than the first side of the bag; further comprising a first attachment device and a second attachment device; wherein the first attachment device is attached to a bottom of the body portion of the back pack nearer a first side of the back pack than a second side of the back pack; wherein the second attachment device is attached to the bottom of the body portion of the back pack nearer the second side of the back pack than the first side of the back pack; wherein a second end of the fifth strap is configured to be temporarily attached to the first attachment device; and wherein a second end of the sixth strap is configured to be temporarily attached to the second attachment device.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the back pack has an inner chamber, and the bag is configured so that it can be inserted into the inner chamber.
 8. A method comprising attaching a bag to a back pack; wherein the back pack includes first and second straps; wherein the bag is attached to the back pack by permanently attaching a first end of a third strap to the bag and permanently attaching a second end of the third strap, opposite the first end of the third strap, to the back pack; wherein the bag is attached to a fourth strap; and wherein the fourth strap has a first end which is attached to the bag and a second end which is configured so that it can be temporarily attached to the back pack.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein the first strap has a first end which is attached near a top of a body portion of the back pack, nearer a first side of the back pack than a second side of the back pack, the second side of the back pack opposite the first side of the back pack; wherein the second strap has a first end which is attached near the top of the body portion of the back pack and nearer the second side of the back pack than the first side of the back pack; wherein the second end of the third strap is permanently attached at the top of the body portion nearer the first side of the back pack than the second side of the back pack; and further comprised of an attachment device which is attached to the second strap; and wherein the second end of the fourth strap is configured to be temporarily attached to the attachment device.
 10. The method of claim 9 wherein the first strap has a second end which is attached near a bottom of the body portion of the back pack, nearer the first side of the pack back than the second side of the back pack; and the second strap has a second end which is attached near a bottom of the body portion of the back pack, nearer the second side of the back pack than the first side of the back pack.
 11. The method of claim 8 wherein the bag has an opening leading to a chamber in which items can be inserted.
 12. The method of claim 11 wherein the chamber includes an interior pocket for storing an item.
 13. The method of claim 8 further comprising attaching a first end of a fifth strap to a bottom of the bag nearer a first side of the bag than a second side of the bag, the first side of the bag opposite from the second side of the bag; attaching a first end of a sixth strap to a bottom of the bag nearer the second side of the bag than the first side of the bag; attaching a first attachment device to a bottom of the body portion of the back pack nearer a first side of the back pack than a second side of the back pack; attaching a second attachment device to the bottom of the body portion of the back pack nearer the second side of the back pack than the first side of the back pack; configuring a second end of the fifth strap so that it can be temporarily attached to the first attachment device; and configuring a second end of the sixth strap so that it can be temporarily attached to the second attachment device.
 14. The method of claim 8 wherein the back pack has an inner chamber, and the bag is configured so that it can be inserted into the inner chamber. 